D.C. dreams

Lugged three stuffed suitcases, with the help of my mother and sibling, from Massachusetts to Washington D.C., a brand new city knowing only a handful of people

Survived Washington’s hottest summer in the city’s history – 25 days (and now up to 50 days since I’ve left) of sweltering 90+ degree temperatures

Rode bikes through Georgetown’s Waterfront with my sibling on my first night in the city

Lived in a college apartment with two other student interns and no income

Interned at Voice of America full-time, working 40 hours a week

Saw the capitol’s Memorial Day parade

Spent time learning and educating myself at twelve different Smithsonian museums, not including the Newseum and the National Zoo – my two most favorite locations

Attended various protests and demonstrations in the nation’s capitol, where free speech is advocated and respected; the March on Washington for AIDS, multiple AIDS/HIV marches, an Occupy anti-fracking protest

Saw Al Sharpton, Wyclef, Ben Taylor, a member of the Jackson clan, a Nick Kristof lookalike

Worked an eight-day work week

Became accustomed to Washington’s Metro system

Flew out to Arizona for a short weekend attending the AG Bell conference to speak at two sessions, spend time with my mother and catch up with old (and new) friends

Went to the Capitol’s Fourth of July concert rehearsal to only have it end early for a severe thunderstorm warning

Walked through Watergate

Long dinners out in Georgetown with friends

Mingled among working journalists in a journalism meetup at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

Went to a Nationals Game and watched them win!

Worked an entire weekend covering the Egypt elections curating and live reporting poll updates, protests, gatherings and election results with VOA and on my own

Saw the nation’s capital’s Fourth of July parade on Constitutional Avenue

Had dinner on the National Mall on the Fourth of July with thousands of other people watching the Capitol’s fireworks with the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in sight

Ran through the water fountain on the Georgetown Waterfront

Went on a reporting trip to the Gallup Organization’s headquarters with a VOA reporter

Rode the second longest escalator in the world, or something like that

Was a member of the audience at the World Jump Rope Championship held at a gym on George Washington University’s campus

Got two pieces published, watched an international radio news broadcast in action, and had my own desk space in the middle of a newsroom

Experienced DC’s nightlife

Put my feet in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden’s fountain

Bid farewell to DC and traveled back home for 6 days for family time, back to back appointments and to quickly pack everything back up for my trip to New York for school

A quick day trip to Ogunquit, Maine resulting in a massive sunburn

Survived my second year of RA training

I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to spend a summer in a brand new city, especially Washington D.C. and it being on my list of cities to live in sometime in my life, and to intern at such an esteemed and well-known news organization. I was able to gain a lot of confidence, experience and learn more about myself during this summer.